How many of those unborn babies snuffed out might have lived? We will never know.

Actually, based on actual evidence, and not a single anomaly, we have a pretty good reason to propose that none of themwould have lived. Just beause you want to pretend that an anomaly somehow alters the actual evidence supported by the data, that's your problem.

See, this is the problem with theists. They live in a world where, in their minds, reality where anomalies (they call them "miracles"), negate actual data, and science. And they want the laws of the land to reflect that magical thinking.

Actually, based on actual evidence, and not a single anomaly, we have a pretty good reason to propose that none of themwould have lived. Just beause you want to pretend that an anomaly somehow alters the actual evidence supported by the data, that's your problem.

See, this is the problem with theists. They live in a world where, in their minds, reality where anomalies (they call them "miracles"), negate actual data, and science. And they want the laws of the land to reflect that magical thinking.

Actually, based on actual evidence, and not a single anomaly, we have a pretty good reason to propose that none of themwould have lived. Just beause you want to pretend that an anomaly somehow alters the actual evidence supported by the data, that's your problem.

See, this is the problem with theists. They live in a world where, in their minds, reality where anomalies (they call them "miracles"), negate actual data, and science. And they want the laws of the land to reflect that magical thinking.

There are a lot of problems with theists and evidence. However I would not call this an "anomaly," rather it's the outlier on the distribution curve of extreme preterm survival stories. Every distribution has its outlier. As medical advancements improve preterm survival rates, the ethical/moral line in the sand about when abortion is justified will be challenged. Obviously.

I don't know for sure that I won't be attacked by a polar bear when I leave the house. Should I be afraid to leave the house because this possibility exists? We do know with a statistical certainty that the likelihood of a 12-week-old fetus of being viable is so low that there is no reason to behave, or to pass any laws restricting the rights of an actual person based on a single anomaly.

There are a lot of problems with theists and evidence. However I would not call this an "anomaly," rather it's the outlier on the distribution curve of extreme preterm survival stories. Every distribution has its outlier. As medical advancements improve preterm survival rates, the ethical/moral line in the sand about when abortion is justified will be challenged. Obviously.

Well...except that it is such an unlikely outlier that I would submit that it does fit the criteria for being an anomaly. I do agree with your assessment that as medical science advances, the equation will change with it. However, one anomaly (outlier, if you prefer) hardly serves as evidence that we have arrived at that point, yet.

This is why every first year student should do a stats class. Statistics are easily manipulated and the same results can be twisted into a positive or a negative depending on the bias of the viewer.

Thing is, Southern Dad isn't suggesting that the data has shifted. He is trying to make the case that this single anomalous (outlying) event is/should be sufficient to simply ignore the actual data, and what it tells us.